Pelargonium plant named ‘KLEPP08209’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Pelargonium  named ‘KLEPP08209’ particularly characterized by ivy  pelargonium  with a good, stable medium-pink inflorescences, good growth, good branching, and tolerance to heat and rain, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Pelargonium peltatum.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPP08209’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘KLEPP08209’. ‘KLEPP08209’ wasdiscovered as a seedling resulting from a controlled cross in May 2004in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Pelargonium parent,‘CC 001’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Pelargonium parent,‘KLEP04116’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,019). A single plant selection wassubsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.

The new cultivar was created in 2004 and first propagated in September2005 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedlyby vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany over a three and one-halfyear period. ‘KLEPP08209’ has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetativecuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Switzerlandon Jun. 19, 2008. ‘KLEPP08209’ has not been made publicly available morethan one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal commercialpractices in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Ivy pelargonium with a good, stable medium-pink        inflorescences;    -   2. Good growth;    -   3. Good branching; and    -   4. Good tolerance to heat and rain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Pelargonium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photograph is of a plant about 3-months old taken inSpring 2008 and grown from rooted cuttings in a 12-cm pot undergreenhouse (glasshouse) in Stuttgart, Germany under conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPP08209’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken on 3-month old plants in12-cm pots in a greenhouse (glasshouse) in January through April 2008.The plants were pinched once at five weeks. The color readings weredetermined under natural light. Color references are to the RHS ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Geraniacaea.        -   Species.—Pelargonium peltatum.        -   Common name.—Pelargonium (Geranium).        -   Denomination.—‘KLEPP08209’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Pelargonium parent,            ‘CC 001’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Pelargonium parent,            ‘KLEP04116’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,019).-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Upright and then becomes trailing.        -   Height.—20.0 cm.        -   Spread.—30.0 cm.        -   Life cycle (flowering season).—Spring to autumn.        -   Form.—Round, bushy.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—15 days.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—Approximately 80 days.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—9 to 13 days.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem color.—RHS 137B.        -   Pubescence.—Very weak, short.        -   Pubescence color.—Greenish white.        -   Stem form.—Round.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Length.—8.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 4.0 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Kidney-shaped, typical of ivy pelargonium.        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Closed.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull.        -   Length.—4.0 cm to 8.0 cm.        -   Width.—5.0 cm to 8.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Surface pubescence (both surfaces).—Absent.        -   Petiole.—Length: 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately            0.6 cm. Color: RHS 137B.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Venation color.—RHS 137C. Zonation: Very weak. Distance from            leaf margin apex to outer edge of zonation: 2.0 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.5 to 0.8 cm. Color: RHS 177A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—An umbel composed of 5 to 12 flowers.        -   Flowering habit,—Continuous.        -   Umbels.—Number (per plant per growing season): 3 to 4.            Depth: 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Diameter: 8.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Individual florets of the umbel.—Depth: About 1.0 cm.            Diameter: 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Cluster shape.—Round-ovate.        -   Length.—1.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic, shell-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base:            Blunt. Margin: Entire, smooth. Color: RHS 137B. Size:            Length: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—15 to 20.        -   Shape.—Drop-shaped (rain-drop shaped).        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—2.2 cm.        -   Width.—1.3 cm.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color of lobes.—Upper lobes (both upper and lower surfaces):            RHS 61D. Lower lobes (both upper and lower surfaces): RHS            62A.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Sepals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color (both surfaces).—RHS 137C.        -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm to 0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Slightly rough. Lower surface:            Smooth.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137B.        -   Texture.—Slightly rough.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—15.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137C.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Anther number (average): 5. Anther length: 0.2 cm.            Anther shape: Ovate, elliptic. Filament length: 0.5 cm to            0.7 cm. Filament color: RHS 65D. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: RHS 35A.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Pistil length: 0.3 to 0.7 cm. Stigma            color: RHS 58A. Stigma shape: Filamentous. Style length:            Small, less than 0.5 cm. Style color: RHS 137D. Ovary            arrangement: Central, middle. Ovary color: RHS 136C.-   Fruit/seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Good, no specific sensitivity    observed to diseases and insects.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘KLEPP08209’ differs from the female parent, the proprietary femalePelargonium parent, ‘CC 001’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEPP08209’ hasbetter branching and is more floriferous than ‘CC 001’.

‘KLEPP08209’ differs from the male parent, the proprietary malePelargonium parent, ‘KLEP04116’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,019) in that‘KLEPP08209’ has medium-pink inflorescences and a medium growth habit,while ‘KLEP04116’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,019) has dark salmoninflorescences and has a very strong growth habit.

‘KLEPP08209’ differs from the commercial comparison variety Tisprif(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,749) in that ‘KLEPP08209’ has longer leaves (4.0cm to 8.0 cm), a longer peduncle (15.0 cm to 20.0 cm), and smallerpetals (2.2 cm length and 1.3 cm width), while ‘Fisprit’ has shorterleaves (3.2 cm to 3.7 cm), a shorter peduncle (14.3 cm), and largerpetals (3.3 cm to 3.6 cm length and 2.0 cm to 2.2 cm width). Inaddition, the upper petals of ‘KLEPP08209’ are RHS 61D (medium pink);while the upper petals of ‘Fisprif’ are from RHS 65B to RHS 65C or RHS75B (light bluish-pink) with distinctive markings of RHS N57B(red-purple) spots and RHS 67A veins near the base.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant named ‘KLEPP08209’as shown and described herein.